Ban Ki-moon orders withdrawal of top official, closure of office
Saturday, 10 July 2010
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, July 09: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a dramatic announcement yesterday divulged that he has ordered the withdrawal of top UN officials and closure of an office in Colombo, protesting anti-UN demonstrations led by a government minister. The UN Secretary General regretted the fact that the Sri Lankan government had failed to prevent the disruption of works in the UN office.
Sri Lanka's Works Minister Wimal Weerawansa, a close pal of President Mahindra Rajapaksa, led the anti-UN demonstration. He began a hunger strike. Sri Lanka has taken serious exception to UN constituting a panel to probe whether war crimes were committed at the end of country's long, protracted and bloody war with Tamil Tigers.
Meanwhile, there have been a change of heart in UN security council's attitude toward sinking of a South Korean ship that left 46 sailors dead. The prominent security council members condemned the sinking of the South Korean ship but refrained from accusing North Korea. The US, Japan and South Korea have been pressing the Security Council to take a firm stand against North Korea.
In another development, the might of China was once again on display. China and Russia together opposed naming North Korea as a culprit. The Security Council statement condemned the attack which led to the sinking of South Korea ship and called for appropriate and peaceful measures against those responsible without naming North Korea. The statement also took note of North Korea's denial of involvement, the New York Times (NYT) reported today.
NEW YORK, July 09: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a dramatic announcement yesterday divulged that he has ordered the withdrawal of top UN officials and closure of an office in Colombo, protesting anti-UN demonstrations led by a government minister. The UN Secretary General regretted the fact that the Sri Lankan government had failed to prevent the disruption of works in the UN office.
Sri Lanka's Works Minister Wimal Weerawansa, a close pal of President Mahindra Rajapaksa, led the anti-UN demonstration. He began a hunger strike. Sri Lanka has taken serious exception to UN constituting a panel to probe whether war crimes were committed at the end of country's long, protracted and bloody war with Tamil Tigers.
Meanwhile, there have been a change of heart in UN security council's attitude toward sinking of a South Korean ship that left 46 sailors dead. The prominent security council members condemned the sinking of the South Korean ship but refrained from accusing North Korea. The US, Japan and South Korea have been pressing the Security Council to take a firm stand against North Korea.
In another development, the might of China was once again on display. China and Russia together opposed naming North Korea as a culprit. The Security Council statement condemned the attack which led to the sinking of South Korea ship and called for appropriate and peaceful measures against those responsible without naming North Korea. The statement also took note of North Korea's denial of involvement, the New York Times (NYT) reported today.